Football coach denies indecently assaulting young player

A football coach accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a young player he taught has made his first appearance at court.

Paul Whelan, 56, denies committing the offences against a boy aged between eight and 10 when he was the coach of a junior football team in Thornton.

Whelan, of Maida Vale, Anchorsholme, pleaded not guilty to three charges of indecently assaulting the boy. The offences are alleged to have taken place over a two-year period between January 1976 and January 1978 in Thornton.

Whelan was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on January 4 by Blackpool magistrates.

His bail conditions include no unsupervised contact with under-18s with a parent’s consent, complying with any conditions imposed by the Lancashire Football Association, and living at his given address.